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So, I know several people here have recently gone on trips to Iceland, and I'm just trying to get some opinions. I'm planning to go with the wife the first week or so of October. The plan is to stay for 6 nights. This is our first non-US trip together, which has me leaning towards using one of the guide agencies to handle the accommodations, itinerary, etc. (specifically looking at Guide to Iceland).

The two packages I'm considering are self-driving and both have the Golden Circle or whatever and snorkeling Silfra. One involves staying at the Snæfellsnes Peninsula the second day then going along the south coast, staying at a different place each night, with a long drive back to Reykjavik from Hofn the day before departure. The other is a tour of the north side, also staying at different places. Both plans only have us in Reykjavik on the first day/night and the last night/day.

Given only 6 nights, which coast would you prefer? Or would it be better to spend more time in Reykjavik and just drive out to some of the places without staying there? I feel like I won't be "missing out" in any case, but I'd like to maximize my stay as much as possible.

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I don't think you need to use an agency for your entire trip, but you do you if it makes you feel more comfortable. I don't know what you enjoy doing. If I went again, I would spend the weekend in Reykjavik. You can see about all you need to in the city in that time. Plus, the locals like to party on the weekend. Try to stay west of Snorrabraut (it's not bad east of there...just most everything is west of it) and north of Hingbraut. While staying in Reykjavik you don't really need a car. I did the snorkeling, plus lava tube package, and it was pretty cool. I did not go on the golden circle. There are tours that will go there. I rented a car and went south one day, and there are several cool spots to stop and check out. I can give some pointers if you go that way. I did not go north, though. Although, I know someone who went north to see the puffins and loved it. I would recommend staying in some of the smaller towns and journeying outside the city during the week. Also, you will be there around the start of Northern Lights viewing season. Check which night will be best (there's a forecast website), and schedule a tour around that. I did the boat one, which was cool, but I think the bus tour will provide better visuals of the lights themselves.

In Reykjavik, of course you have to get a hot dog and Bryggjan Brugghus has some pretty good beer. I'm drawing a blank on some bar and restaurant recommendations. Islenski Barrin was a nice, cozy bar/restaurant. Lebowski and Mikkellar have some good beer selections, and I hung out at Bar Ananus one night (upstairs).

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Be there myself in a couple of weeks. Did all my own planning and arranging, so can't help you there.

Just an FYI, it's stunningly expensive for food, drinks.

Don't try to get a taxi from the airport, it's even more stunningly expensive. I'm taking the bus to town, then grabbing a taxi to the apartment I've rented.

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Yes. There are bus services from the Airport to Reykjavik. Use those. The airport is a good haul outside the city. Beers will be about $10 each. Not sure how fancy you're going to be, but your basic meals (in Reykjavik, not sure about the small towns outside the city) will be about $25 (this is what a burger and fries was for one of my lunches). You can go cheaper, and get a bowl of soup (one of their staples is a veggie soup with lamb) for about $10 or so.

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Don't be nervous about driving. It's pretty straightforward. Just stay off the 4 wheel drive roads if you don't have 4 wheel drive. There's not many roads outside the city either, so your route will be hard to miss.

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Yup. The apartment is near a Bonus which carries the biggest selection of American brands at pretty reasonable prices.

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I got a refrigerated pizza, some ham, cheese, and bread, some snacks, a couple energy drinks (cause drinking), a pre-made sandwich that was pretty good, yogurt, donuts, and a couple protein shakes. That covered some lunches, and breakfasts, and the pizza was good for a dinner one night.

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Don't be nervous about driving. It's pretty straightforward. Just stay off the 4 wheel drive roads if you don't have 4 wheel drive. There's not many roads outside the city either, so your route will be hard to miss.

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I planned to get a car even if i go through an agency to set things up. I would hate to spend my trip on other people's schedule.

I've been looking at places to stay in Vik and a couple of smaller towns along the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. How long is the drive from Reykjavik to Vik?

I think my problem is that i want to see too many sites in too short of a time, haha.

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If you like to drink, it might not be a bad idea to pick up some beer at the airport once you land. Then, you can drink a few before heading out. I pregamed with some nice folks from Minnesota one night. They had to use up the last of their beer and champagne, so there was a good amount of drinking, haha.

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I planned to get a car even if i go through an agency to set things up. I would hate to spend my trip on other people's schedule.

I've been looking at places to stay in Vik and a couple of smaller towns along the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. How long is the drive from Reykjavik to Vik?

I think my problem is that i want to see too many sites in too short of a time, haha.

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Vik isn't too far from Reykjavik. I took a day trip, and ended up a couple hours east of Vik at Fjaðrárgljúfur. I didn't get back to city until pretty late, but I stopped at the sulfur springs (off 42 south of Reykjavk), Seljalandsfoss (bring water proof boots and pants. there is a cool waterfall about a 5-10 minute walk to the left of the big one. You can walk through the stream, into the little cave that a smaller waterfall falls into), Skógafoss, and Reynisfjara Beach (black sand near Vik) along the way. I was pretty rushed, though. I would definitely recommend staying in Vik before venturing to Fjaðrárgljúfur and further (not sure what is further, but I bet you can find some cool stuff).

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If you like to drink, it might not be a bad idea to pick up some beer at the airport once you land. Then, you can drink a few before heading out. I pregamed with some nice folks from Minnesota one night. They had to use up the last of their beer and champagne, so there was a good amount of drinking, haha.

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I read some things about that from random googling. I tend to have pretty high bar tabs here, so i can't imagine how much i would spend in a night of drinking in Reykjavik.

Would you think Friday, Saturday, and the night before departure would be enough time to see/ do most worthwhile things in the city?

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I read some things about that from random googling. I tend to have pretty high bar tabs here, so i can't imagine how much i would spend in a night of drinking in Reykjavik.

Would you think Friday, Saturday, and the night before departure would be enough time to see/ do most worthwhile things in the city?

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If/When I go again, I'll probably do a Friday and Saturday night stay there, then head out. I guess it depends on what all you want to do. You can probably find enough things to keep you occupied for longer, but it's not a big city. The sites in Reykjavik are pretty easy to walk to. The only thing that might keep you there for longer would be if you do a tour (like snorkeling), since that will take up most of a day. I'd leave 2 whole days to see the sites and explore the city. It might be a little overkill, but I like to just walk around new cities.

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You live in Virginia? I'm guessing you'll fly Wow out of BWI? I got by for a week with just a backpack and carry-on. Wow charges for carry-ons. I probably should have just done a checked bag with my backpack, but you could probably get by with one carry-on, and one checked bag for 2 people.

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You live in Virginia? I'm guessing you'll fly Wow out of BWI? I got by for a week with just a backpack and carry-on. Wow charges for carry-ons. I probably should have just done a checked bag with my backpack, but you could probably get by with one carry-on, and one checked bag for 2 people.

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I think, for whatever reason, i planned to fly to JFK and take a WOW flight from there. I'll double check my thought process with that, though. My wife isn't the kind of person who can survive with a backpack. She takes a suitcase to Ohio to visit family for a week.

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I think, for whatever reason, i planned to fly to JFK and take a WOW flight from there. I'll double check my thought process with that, though. My wife isn't the kind of person who can survive with a backpack. She takes a suitcase to Ohio to visit family for a week.

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Sorry, the backpack is the free item you can carry on (under the seat). It can be any type of bag, really. That's why I recommended you two bringing one checked bag, one carry-on, and your two personal bags.

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Go to Blue Lagoon, definately expensive but it is a must see. You can treat yourself too.

Go to a show at the Concert Hall in Reykjavik. Truly a remarkable building. If you don't do one, get a tour of the building, it is really beautiful.
A cheap but really good option is Reykjavik Chips. The sauces are incredible and I had some of the best fries I have ever had.

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gobucks has it right, rent a car and drive around the southwest part of the island, Vik isn't far at all and you will be able to see some great landscapes, waterfalls like Skogafoss and Gullfoss, Reynisfjara black sand beach, the geysers, really tons of cool stuff around. Also recommend Secret Lagoon instead of Blue Lagoon, it was cheaper, fewer people, and no time limit. Buy your alcohol at the airport